Applesauce Cookies

Thank you so much for the sweet comments about my pantry! You are all incredibly kind. That was a fun project and I was so excited to share it with my blog friends. Also a big thanks to Jen from I Heart Organizing for featuring me on her amazing blog! When I first discovered Jen’s blog I felt like I had struck gold! Isn’t it fun meeting people who have the same interests and passions as you do? It’s one of my favorite things about blogging. :)

These last few days have been crazy. Life is so busy right now (I’m sure you can all relate!) and December is flying by way too quickly. Kids are out of school after this week and I’m hoping everything slows down so that we can just enjoy the holiday together. I finally got my Christmas cards mailed out and finished up my friend/neighbor/teacher gifts today.

I didn’t make my cards and I just kept things really simple for gifts and made cookies. Nothing too creative this year. I have to save my creativity for entertaining Kole. That boy is sucking the life right out of me these days! But I did manage to bake! Which is a feat for me with or without my 20 month old sidekick.

Because I’ve made our Christmas Pretzel Hugs for the past few years, I decided to mix it up and make Applesauce cookies. And I have to share my applesauce cookie recipe with all of you because they are SO good. Really. They are. My mom always made these cookies when I was growing up (the recipe is from my grandma) and the smell of them brings back happy childhood memories. Maybe making them will bring back happy childhood memories for you too. Probably not, but it’s worth a try, right?

{Applesauce Cookies}

Ingredients:

I cup shortening

2 cups sugar

2 cups applesauce

4 eggs

4 cups flour

2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp cloves

1 tsp nutmeg

1 tsp salt

1 tsp cinnamon

1 pkg chocolate chips

Directions:

First mix together the sugar and shortening. Add eggs, then add the applesauce and soda combined. (I just put the 2 tsp of soda right into the applesauce can and stir away. The applesauce kind of rises and sizzles. That’s my favorite part. :)

Add the rest of the dry ingredients (I love that most of them are 1 tsp. – makes it harder to mess things up. Although one time I messed up big time. I made these and forgot the flour. How do you forget the flour? I don’t know but I did and wouldn’t recommend it.)

Bake @ 350 for 15-20 minutes

Five reasons you should make these: 1 – They’re delicious. 2 – They’re easy – if I can make them correctly (most of the time), anyone can. 3 – The cinnamon and spices will make your house smell so Christmassy! It’s the best! 4 – They have applesauce in them so you can pretend they are good for you. They’re not. But it’s always fun to pretend. 5 – You’ll want to see the applesauce sizzle part. It’s just cool.

I doubled this recipe and made 95 cookies so it probably makes around 46-48 per batch.

Then I just used some cute Rudolph plates, clear wrap, and red ribbon to make them look pretty.

All wrapped up and ready to deliver!

The only problem is that I need at least 10 more plates of cookies. Plus Kenny came home tonight and was so bummed there weren’t any left for him. Looks like another batch of cookies is in my future! I tend to eat my fair share of things that I bake so it’s a good thing they have applesauce in them and are so good for me.

I painted that little cake stand to use for decor…

but so far is has been perfect to hold some of the little candles I bought to deliver with the cookies. Remember the Fresh Balsam candle from Bath and Body Works that I mentioned in my favorite things post?

I’m kind of obsessed with it. In fact I bought four of the large candles for teacher gifts…

but this one seemed to be calling “light me!”. So I did.

Smells so good. Almost as good as my healthy applesauce cookies.

Ellie made some beautiful artwork that just so happens to matchthe aqua/silver decorwe are going with around here. I was impressed. It’s not every second grader who takes her house color palette into consideration before creating. ;)

And while we’re on the subject of art, I have to share a close up of another picture Ellie recently drew. That has to be the cutest reindeer and Santa “Claws” I’ve ever seen. :)

And here’s Addison’s awesome hundreds chart which has nothing to do with Christmas, our decor, cookies or anything else for that matter. But I can’t brag about one daughter and not the other. What kind of mom would I be?

(Dec. 2010)

So proud of both of my girls. So proud of my applesauce cookies.

Enjoy! And if you bake these cookies let me know how they turn out! Don’t forget the flour and they’ll become a family favorite for sure.

Comments

Hi Erin! I agree, Jen is amazing as her fellow blogger buddy, Amanda, who I have known forever. Her mom and mine are BFF’s. Funny how small the world is. Anyhow, I enjoy your blog so much. I just made your pretzel cookies and linked to your blog. I also am obsessed with your blog since I would love to live in San Diego. (I just said “your blog” too many times) Dream! I was on the central coast when hubby was stationed there but they moved us to Germany which is where we are now. Anyhow, I too started a blog and wanted you to take a look. Talk to you soon!http://delightfullycoconuts.blogspot.com/

The cookies sound super yummy! You have quite the budding artist in your family. I was in B&BW the other day and those candles are divine. I’ll be baking up a storm today for Saturday’s dessert party we are hosting in honor of our oldest’s graduation.

Your cookies look delicious. I’m going to have to try them, but I have a question. How many oz is a can of applesauce? I’ve never seen a can at our store, only jars and I want to make sure I’m using the right amount. I can’t wait to try these.

And you’re right about Jen! She is FANTASTIC! She has so many great ideas and I’m so glad she featured you! You also have a FANTASTIC blog and I can’t wait to see what else you come up with

Ok – a can is around 14.5 oz. I bought a 48 oz. jar of applesauce because I was doubling the recipe and used about 1/3 of it. I just kind of estimated and the cookies turned out fine so as long as you are using around the size of a regular can of beans they’ll taste great!

These are great! It’s just like a pumpkin chocolate chip cookie, but with the applesauce instead. I’m about halfway through cooking them right now and I already have a good 4 dozen cookies. I wonder if I’m making smaller cookies than yours? I just used a small cookie scoop and it’s only taking ten minutes per batch.

Super yummy! Thanks for sharing the recipe! For as little as you claim to cook, you’re pretty good at it. I used your taco salad bowl recipe a while ago, too, and my whole family loved it.

Way to go on the baking! My Mom used to make applesauce cookies too! I LOVE them, so soft and yummy, and definitely healthy! :) Love Ellie’s art work as usual! She really is so creative, I always love when you post the girls art and handwriting. Cute, cute. Have you decided if your coming up during Christmas break?

Definitely going to try those applesauce cookies…thanks for sharing! Your pantry looks amazing! I’ve been eying those labels for awhile now…I think I just need to get some!I keep meaning to tell you, that if we had a little girl, her name was going to be addison. Love that name…and you have a cute one!

This brings back sweet memories. We received lots of applesauce for a wedding gift 28 years ago and we were so excited with our applesauce cookie recipe we found. Its still one of Steve’s favorites WHEN I venture into the kitchen.

Erin, I had to laugh that you forgot the flour in your cookies. I’ve done the exact same thing, but with banana bars (which are also delicious and “good for you” because of the bananas) Anyway, I made them for a family dinner with the “in-laws” and forgot the flour, how embarrassing! ;)

Welcome to Sunny Side Up where I share my obsession with organization and my love for home design and decor. My husband and I just finished building a house and I can't wait to put my spin on the place and share it all with you. I have three little ones and love everything about motherhood. Except the cooking. I've never enjoyed the cooking. :) Like the city we live in, things are generally pretty sunny around here. Thanks for stopping by!